I am a fan of history. There is a lot to learn from it.
If the price pattern followed by spot prices is consistent, we may finally see a significant move up in the spot price of #uranium in 2023. 🧵/1
There are 3 spot prices that play a key role; conversion, enrichment and, of course, uranium. The price of all three typically move in the same direction, but not simultaneously. The sequence in prices between the last bull market and this one appears so far to be consistent./2
In the last bull market, as today, the first spot price out of the gate was the conversion spot price. North American conversion spot prices rallied early in 2005 and stayed at those levels through 2007./3
Back then, spot prices rose from $5.88/kgU at the end of 2003 to $11.50/kgU at the end of 2005 and levelled off.
In 2021 the price fell from $21 to $16. However, once Russia attacked Ukraine, the price quickly rose 150% in 2022 to $38-40 level where it remains since summer. /4
Enrichment spot prices can stay flat for a very long time. In the last bull market it was no different as the spot price remained at the $100-$110/SWU level until 2005, and then 🚀🚀🚀🚀 in 2006. This was after the conversion spot price jumped./5
For me, it makes sense that utilities, as a group, would max out existing enrichment contracts first, than secure available conversion & UF6 driving up spot, before returning to secure more enrichement, and thus driving spot SWU up./6
In the most recent period SWU spot prices have seen a slow rise from $51/SWU to $56/SWU in 2021. Similar to conversion spot prices in 2022, once the war started the price jumped to $80. However, as the focus turns back to enrichment, prices have soared further./7
To date the spot price of SWU, or enrichment, has risen 123% so far in 2022. If the past is to repeat itself, the spot price will continue rising through 2023 and beyond. So far every indication is that is the case./8
Which brings us to uranium.
In the prior bull market the spot price saw increases in 2004 and 2005, before seeing a 100% increase in 2006, on the way to its peak in 2007. While enrichment went vertical from the start of 2006, it took 6 mths later for uranium to take off./9
In the current bull market the uranium spot price continues to rise. 2020 saw a 25% price rise, while 2021 had a 40% price rise. To November, the price is up 19% in 2022.
Not surprisingly, the spot price has lagged the current %age gains of both conversion and enrichment./10
This is not unusual as uranium is last. IMO, uranium's spot price rise will follow the rise in SWU spot prices (33% in one month for SWU is a great start).
If the past foretells the future, as the price of SWU goes 🚀, the uranium price will follow shortly in 2023./end
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Looking at this chart, and anecdotes shared on X and interviews from those attending nuclear fuel conferences, one can get the impression that Western utilities are covered in the immediate and that a crisis is more a late 2020s or 2030s issue. But is that the case?/3
A thread on enrichment and its impact on #uranium demand.
This will be a long one referencing my analysis on Urenco and what I see happening in the enrichment market.
Please read the attached images to better understand what is happening./1
I recently posted that Urenco announced a record high order book for its conversion services at the end of 2024 and this would lead to significant #uranium contracting.
In the 2010s Urenco was working through contracts, or order book as they call it, from the prior #uranium bull market through at least 2017. They noted this in their annual report of that same year. It is noteworthy that they can live off of peak demand for a very long time./3
#Uranium industry participants and investors have noted that utilities have been securing both enrichment and conversion services first, before signing #uranium contracts.
With Urenco's data we now have clear evidence that a wave of uranium term contracts is coming.
A short 🧵
To understand, I note that in the previous bull market term contracting started above replacement rate in 2005. This continued until 2012 when it was disrupted by Fukushima and shutdowns. In the 12 years that followed, utilities have not exceeded the replacement rate level./2
However, in the previous bull market, they were signing #uranium term contracts before they signed conversion contracts. The concern, or fear, was securing uranium supply. The peak for enrichment contracts was 2010./3
If you are invested in #uranium and have not done so, I highly recommend this interview by @antonioresource and John Ciampaglia of Sprott.
There are a few items I would like to add. Grab a coffee, this will be a long thread on #uranium/1
I would like to start by acknowledging that no one can predict the short term movements in the price of spot uranium with accuracy. We do not know the date when euphoria will return it to $106, as in the spring, or whether $80 is the absolute bottom today./2
It appears that 2024 is a pivotal year for uranium fuel buyers. In the interview John C. points out the sticker shock experienced by these buyers as they saw the price double from last year. I will try to explain why 2024 has turned into such a defining year./3
Some thoughts on Global Atomic's $GLO $GLATF announcement today regarding a private placement for $15 million. I think everyone knows what will happen to the share price in the short term, but I would like to focus on what happens after. A 🧵/1
If we look at Global's spending we note that in Q1/2024 they used up $15.8 million, with $11.8 on equipment and development of Dasa. They had $18.6 million cash remaining at qtr end, but no doubt have used up the funds and require a raise to maintain their development schedule./2
Perhaps they waited too long in the belief that the stock would get a positive re-rating with news of credit committee approval, but that did not happen, and the stock turned down about 25% on news of another delay./3